Connector bolt applying tool



April 24, 1955 J. PAVELKA CONNECTOR BOLT APPLYING TOOL 2 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed Jan. 8, 1955 INVENTOR. n @WM A41.: `1 N l April 24, 1956 J.PAVELKA 2,742,806

CONNECTOR BOLT APPLYING TooL Filed Jan. 8, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 UnitedStates Patent vO CONNECTOR BOLT APPLYING TOOL Joseph Pavelka, St. Louis,Mo., assignor to Joseph Pavelka, Jr., St. Louis, Mo.

Application January 8, 1953, Serial No. 330,241

24 Claims. (Cl. 81-53.1)

The invention relates to a tool for making a connection to an electricpower line by means of a connector bolt having a split shank, adapted tostraddle the power line and a lead off wire, and an associated nutarranged to be threaded onto the bolt shank for clamping the line andlead ofr wire together.

The main object of the invention is to facilitate the application of thelead olf wire and connector bolt to the power line without the necessityof the workman taking direct hold of the power line.

Another object is to provide for the application of the lead E wire andconnector bolt to the power line when they are at an elevation beyondthe reach of the operators hands. l

Another object is to facilitate the tightening of a connector bolt asdescribed without applying a bending moment to the power line.

Another object is to eiect the application of a connector to an overheadpower wire by the manual manipulation of a single elongated shaft onwhich the remainder of the tool is carried.

The tool is used most effectively with a connector bolt and nut unit, asshown, which include elements forholding the lead oil' wire assembledwith the nut independently of the tool. Such a bolt and nut assembly isdescribed and claimed separately in another application filed by thepresent inventor February 9, 1953, Serial No. 335,810 now Patent2,731,616, issued January 17, 1956.

1n the accompanying drawings illustrating preferred embodiments of theinvention:

Figure 1 is a front elevation looking into open jaws of a tool of thetype described with the parts in the position assumed when the tool isrst applied to the power line and before the tap wire and connector boltnut are brought together with the power line and the connector bolt.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the structure shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is drawn to an enlarged scale and comprises a vertical sectiontaken approximately on the line 3-3 of Figure 1 and showing the twoparts in another position occupied when the power line and lead olf wireand connector bolt nut are assembled with the bolt.

Figure 4 is a detailed vertical section taken on the line 4 4 of Figure3. v

Figure 5 is a horizontal section taken on the line 5--5 of Figure 2.

Figure 6 is a horizontal section taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 2.

Figure 7 is a horizontal section taken on the line 7-7 of Figure 2.

FigureS is a horizontal section taken on the line 8-8 of Figure 2.

Figure 9 shows the lower portion of the tool head as in Figure 2 butmounted on a different type of elongated support and operating shaft.

Figure 10 is a horizontal transverse section taken on the line 10-10 ofFigure 9.

2,742,806 Patented Apr. 24, 1956 Figure 11 shows the tool head as inFigures 1-3 but mounted on a pair of elongated shafts extendingdownwardly from the head.

The tool frame includes a bottom wall 1, upwardly extending side walls2, there being a rear wall 3 extending between the upper portions ofside walls 2. A rear upper shelf 4 extends forwardly from the upper endof rear wall 3 and between side walls 2. A forward lower shelf 5 extendsbetween side walls 2 intermediate the upper and lower ends of the frame.

A vertical shaft 6 is slidable axially in bottom wall 1 and isshouldered at 7 to seat a larger diameter tube 8 fixed on the shaft. Theupper end of tube 8 mounts a detachable, upwardly open socket 9 whichreceives the hexagonal nut N of a connector bolt B. A collar 1) isslidable on shaft 6 between frame side walls 2. A relatively strong coilspring 11, surrounding shaft 6 and received within tube 8, is seated oncollar 10 and engages shoulder 7 to exert an upward thrust on shaft 6. Arelatively weak coil spring 12 surrounds tube 8 and is seated on theunderface of shelf 5 and engages a ange 8a on the lower end of tube 8 toexert a down* ward thrust on the latter and shaft 6.

Slidably, but non-rotatably, mounted in bottom wall 1 and shelf 4 is abar 13, the upper end which carries a head 14 detachably ailxed to thebar by a screw 15 and including a horizontal guide 16. Two slides 17, 17arranged end to end are mounted on guide 16 and re connected toeachother by toggle links 18. A toggle 'lever 19 is pivoted to the headat 20 and to links 18 at 21. Each slide 1'7 is provided with a jaw 22.Coil springs 23 thrust slides 17 Vand their jaws 22 toward each other togrip the head of a connector boltB inserted between the jaws. A setscrew 24 controls the thrust of jaws 22 against the bolt head.

'If lever19 is shifted downwardly manually it moves the common pivot 21across a straight line between pivots 18a to lock the toggle with slides17 spaced apart against the thrust of springs 23. v

A stud 25 is seated in frame side walls 2 and journals a pair of sheaves26 adjacent walls 2 and partially receiving bar 13 between them.` Acable 27 rides over each sheave 25 and has one end anchored to collar 10and its other end anchored to bar' 13.

' At the lower end of bar 131s -a horizontal arm 30, the outer end ofwhich slidably and rotatably receives the lower end of a sleeve 31splined onto shaft 6 and including a bushing 31a between the upper faceof arm 30 and the lower face of frame bottom wall 1. A horizontallyextending handle 32 is lixed on arm 30. A horizontally 'extending crankarm 33, provided with a handle 34, is secured to the lower end of sleeve31.

A heavy coil tension spring 431s secured to bar 13 at 44 and to thevframe top wall at 45 and yieldingly raises the bar 13 'tothe positionshown inrFigures l and 2 in which-arm 3G thrusts bushing 31a againstframe bottom wall 1. j

Operation: In utilizingV the tool to apply a lead off wire T to a powerline L, toggle lever 19 is swung do'wrr# wardly to separate jaws 22, andthe head of bolt B is placed between the jaws, and the toggle released.

Bolt nut N is applied to holder 9 and preferably includes i line in thehook-like recesses 50 in the upper endsl-of walls 2. This is readilyaccomplished without engagingY theb'olt'which is only frictionallyclamped between jaws 17l and couldbe-easily-twistcdor displaced if itwere" at= tempted to first insert the power line between the bolt legs.Initially, the bolt is well above the hook and does not contact' theline unti1 after'tlie tool frame hook is seated on the-line, as shown`in` Figure 2. Subsequently, a downward pull on bar 13, either directthroughliandle 32 or indirectly through crank arm 33', sleeve 31,bushing 31a and* arm 30; lowers bolt B into a position in which itstraddles thepower line L (Figure 3) and causes cables 27"toliftcollar10; spring 11, shaft 6, nut N and lead off wire T relative topower line L until nut N contacts the lower end of'bo'ltiB; This limitsfree upward'axialmovement of shaft 6 in the frame; Shaft 6 may then berotatedclockwise` bycrank'arm 33 and sleeve 31 to thread the'nutonto'the bolt and feed nut N and'wire T and line L upthe bolt slotuntilL the wire and line are tightly clamped between the bolt head andnut. At this time downwardpull on handle 32 or sleeve 31, or both, maybe discontinued and springs' 43 and'11 will raise bar 13 and' lowershaft 6, freeing the bolt head from the frictional grip of jaWs22 andfreeing nut' N from holder 9. The to'ol hangs loosely on line L and isreadily removed from the line by relative upward' and transversemovement of the tool by sleeve 31 or by handle 32 or both withoutalecting the bolt or nut holder.

Handle 32 serves as a crank arm by which the tool head may be heldmanually against a tendency to twist and bend the power line by rotationof shaft 6 as nut N is tightened.

Bar 13 and shaft 6,. with sleeve 31, may be of any length necessary toelevate the tool to a given height above the workman and to operate thetool as described above. However, the toolmay be operated effectively bythe downward extension of sleeve 31 only, as indicated in Figures 9 and10, in which the lower end of sleeve 31 may be shouldered at 50 andsupported manually by a hollow handle 51 rotatably receiving the reduceddiameter terminal 52 of the sleeve. The lower end of the sleeve willhave a crank arm 53 and a handle 54 corresponding to crank arm 33 andhandle 34 in Figures 1 and 2. Handle 32 on bar 30 may be omitted or maybe retained for possible use in preventing manually twisting of the toolhead if the handle is within reach or for use in another operation wherethe power line is at a lower level.

Figure 11 shows another form of the invention in which the lower endportions 6a and 13a of shaft 6 and bar 13 have no direct associationwith each other and downward or upward movement of shaft 6 will notshift bar t that other details of the construction may be` variedsubstantially without departing from the spirit of the invention and theexclusive use of those modifications coming within the scope of theclaims is contemplated.

What is claimed is:

l. In a tool for applying a bolt and nut to a power line, a framerecessed to form a line receiving hook, a bolt holder and supportslidably mounted on the frame to move towards and away from said hook, anut holder and support slidably mounted on the frame to move towards andaway from the hook, an elongated upright bar yieldingly connected to theframe to support the same but movable lengthwise relative thereto whenthe frame is supported as by a power line, an operative handle connectedto the bar, and means actuated by relative movement of said bar andframe for moving said bolt holder and nut holder both relative to theframe and hook and towards each other.

2. A tool structure as described in claim 1 in which thenut holder isrotatable about the axis of the bolt holder.

3. A tool structure as described in claim l in which the nut'holder'isrotatable about the axis ofthe bolt holder, and the bar includes alateral extension which may be swung in a plane normal to the axis ofthe nut holder to provide a crank arm for holding the bar and frame andhook against rotation of the nut holder about the axis of the boltholder.

4. A tool structure as described in claim l in which the holder movingmeans comprises a flexible cable with its ends connected to the bar andnut holder, support respectively and passes over a sheave journaled onthe frame so that vertical movement of either holder results insimultaneous movement oftheother holder.

5. In a tool for applyinga bolt toapower line, a frame having adownwardly opening recess arranged to hook over the line, a bolt holdermounted to move vertically on the frame, and spring means yieldinglysupporting the bolt holder on the fr arne in a position spaced abovetheupper end ofsaid recess.

6l In a toolfor applyinga bolt to a power line, a frame havingV avdownwardly opening recess arranged to hook over the. line, a boltholderY mounted to move vertically on the frame, spring meansyieldinglysupporting the bolt holder on the frame in a position spaced above theupper end: of saidrecess, and a, nut holder mounted to move verticallyon the frame below said recess, said holders being movable towards eachother by bodily movement ofthe boltholder downwardly relative to theframe.

7. A tool4 structure as. described in claim 6 which includes springmeans yieldingly positioning the nut holder vertically of the frame.

8. ln a tool for applying a bolt to a power line,.a frame having. adownwardly opening recess arranged to hook over the line, a holdermovably mounted on the frame to position, aboltabovesaid recess, springmeans yieldingly supporting the boltholder on the frame in saidposition, a nut holden mountedon the frame below said recess, saidholders being movable towards each other by downward movement of thebolt holder relative tothe frame, and means, for manually rotating saidnut holder relative to said bolt holder.

9. In a tool for applying a bolt and nut to a power line, a frame havinga downwardly and laterally opening recess arranged to receive at powerline, amember slidable vertically in; said frame and provided with abolt holder normally above and in substantial vertical alignment withsaid recess, a nut-holding member slidable vertically in said frame andnormally below and in substantial vertical alignment with said recess, asheave having a horizontal axis. andjournaled4 in said frame, and acable supported intermediate itsL ends on said. sheave and having itsends connected, respectively, to said members.

l0. A tool structure as described in claim 9 which includes spring`means yieldingly thrusting the bolt holding member upwardly of theframe.

ll. A tool structure as described in claim. 9 which includes springmeans. yieldingly thrusting the bolt holding member upwardly of, theframe, the frame and the` bolt holding member having vertically opposingelements limiting relative movement of the member upwardly in the frameby said spring means.

l2. A tool as described in claim 9 which includes spring meansyieldingly thrusting the bolt holding member upwardly of the frame, andspring means yieldingly thrusting. the nut holding member downwardly inthe frame.

13. A tool asl described'inclaim 9 in which the nut holding member isrotatable in the frame axially of the member and the bolt holding memberis held against such rotation.

14. A tnol structure as described in claim 9 which includes a springassociated with the frame. and the bolt holder member and thrusting thelatterr upwardly of the frame, a spring associated with the frame andnut holder member and thrusting the latter downwardly of the frame,

and a stronger spring associated with the cable and nut holder andthrusting the latter upwardly of the cable connection to the nut holdermember.

15. In a tool for applying a bolt and nut to a power line, a framehaving a downwardly and laterally opening recess arranged to receive apower line, a member slidable vertically in said frame and having a boltholder, an upright shaft rotatable and slidable axially in said frame, acollar surrounding said shaft and slidable vertically in said frame, asheave having a horizontal axis and journaled in said frame above saidcollar, a cable overlying said sheave with the ends secured to saidframe and to said collar respectively, and a yielding support for saidshaft on said collar.

16. A tool structure as described in claim l5 in which the yieldingsupport for the shaft on the collar includes a relatively strong springthrusting the shaft upwardly of the collar and a relatively weak springthrusting the shaft downwardly of the frame.

17. A tool structure as described in claim in which the shaft has alateral shoulder, and a relatively strong spring is compressed betweenthe collar and the lower face of the'shoulder, and a relatively weakspring is cornpressed between the frame and the upper face of theshoulder.

18. In a tool for applying a bolt and nut to a power line, a boltholding stnlcture comprising a guide, a pair of jaws slidable along theguide towards and from each other, spring means thrusting the jawstogether, and a manually operable toggle controlling the spring actuatedjaws and comprising individual links, each pivoted at one end to arespective jaw, and a lever pivoted at one end to the guide and having acommon pivot intermediate its ends to the other ends of said links.

19. In a tool for applying a bolt and nut to a power line, a boltholding structure including a horizontally elongated guide, membersslidable longitudinally of the guide to and from each other and havingjaws depending from the guide and disposed to clamp a bolt head betweenthem, an individual spring associated with each member and compressedbetween the member and the guide and thrusting the member towards theother member, an upstanding ear on each member, and a toggle control forsaid members and springs including individual links associated with themembers, each pivoted at one end to a corresponding ear and extendinggenerally towards the other ear, a common pivot interconnecting theother ends of said links, a control lever fulcrumed at one end on theguide at about the level of said ears and pivoted between its ends tosaid common pivot and shiftable to move said common pivot across thestraight line between said first-mentioned pivots to hold said membersspaced apart against the thrust of said springs.

20. In a tool for applying a connector bolt to a power line, a framehaving a downwardly opening recess disposed to hook over the line, anelongated member slidable vertically in said frame and provided with abolt holder at its upper end, an elongated rotatable upright shaftslidable vertically in said frame alongside said member, a nut holderbelow said bolt holder and mounted on said shaft, and meansinterconnecting said member and nut holder for moving said nut holderupwardly in said frame as said member moves downwardly in said frame.

21. In a tool for applying a connector bolt to a power line, a framehaving a downwardly opening recess disposed to hook over the line, anelongated member slidable vertically in said frame and provided with abolt holder at its upper end, an elongated rotatable shaft slidablevertically in said frame alongside said member, a nut holder below saidbolt holder and mounted on said shaft, means interconnecting said memberand nut holder for moving said nut holder upwardly in said frame as saidmember. moves downwardly in said frame, a handle on the lower end ofsaid member for manually moving it downwardly in said frame, and a crankconnected to said shaft to manually rotate it in said frame.

22. In a tool for applying a connector bolt to a power line, a framehaving a downwardly opening recess disposed to hook over the line, anelongated member slidable vertically in said frame and provided with abolt holder at its upper end, an elongated rotatable shaft slidablevertically in said frame alongside said member, a nut holder below saidbolt holder and mounted on said shaft, means interconnecting said memberand nut holder for moving said nut holder upwardly in said frame as saidmember moves downwardly in said frame, a sleeve slidable lengthwise butnon-rotatable on said shaft and provided with means at its lower end formanually rotating the sleeve and said shaft, there being a downwardlyfacing shoulder on said sleeve and an opposing upwardly facing shoulderon said elongated member whereby said sleeve may be actuated to lowersaid elongated member in said frame.

23. In a tool for applying a connector bolt and nut to a power line, aframe having a laterally and downwardly opening hook for receiving andresting upon the power line, a downwardly facing bolt holder movablevertically onV said' frame and positioned above the level of said hook,an upwardly facing nut holder movable vertically on said frame andpositioned below said hook, spring structure thrusting said holdersupwardly of the frame, said holders and spring structure beingconstructed and arranged to hold a bolt and nut, respectively, spacedapart above and below said hook and with their axes aligned, andelongated handle structure extending downwardly from said holders formoving said holders towards each other and relative to said frame,against the thrust of said spring structure, when said frame issupported on the power line.

24. In a tool for applying a connector bolt and nut to a power line, aframe having a laterally and downwardly opening hook for receiving andresting upon the power line, a downwardly facing bolt holder movablevertically on said frame and positioned above the level of said hook, anupwardly facing nut holder movable vertically on said frame andpositioned below said hook, individual yielding devices thrusting saidholders upwardly of the frame, said holders being constructed andarranged to hold a bolt and nut, respectively, spaced apart above andbelow said hook and with their vaxes aligned, and individual elongatedhandles extending downwardly from said holders for moving themsimultaneously against the thrust of said devices when said frame issupported ou the power line.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,002,981 Halladay May 2S, 1935 2,220,314 Blackburn Nov. 5, 19402,505,186 Hubbard Apr. 25, 1950

